When a person engages in a problem behavior (taking drugs)and this behavior is reinforced by decreasing tension or anxiety that the person is feeling,this is an example of:
A) social negative reinforcement
B) automatic positive reinforcement
C) social positive reinforcement
D) automatic negative reinforcement

Question

When a person engages in a problem behavior (taking drugs)and this behavior is reinforced by decreasing tension or anxiety that the person is feeling,this is an example of:​
A) ​social negative reinforcement
B) ​automatic positive reinforcement
C) ​social positive reinforcement
D) ​automatic negative reinforcement

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Automatic negative reinforcement refers to the reinforcement of a behavior by the removal or avoidance of an aversive stimulus or situation, such as decreasing tension or anxiety through drug use. This is different from social reinforcement, which involves the involvement of other people in reinforcing the behavior. Positive and negative refer to the addition or subtraction of a stimulus, while automatic and social refer to the source of the reinforcement.

When a Person Engages in a Problem Behavior (Taking Drugs)and